the Little Indigo Museum
this small personal collection is gathered and shown by Shindo-san
with a sensitive understanding of indigo textiles and the processes involved in creating them
a jacket with an unusual rendition of Raiden
the Japanese god of thunder and lightning
can you imagine wearing this??
another jacket
front and back
the detailed work is amazing
many meters of this fabric wrapped on a rope
but exactly how was it done?
finished, it is simply perfect
from Africa
jackets from northern China
indigo dyed and beaten to a glossy finish
and the famous pleated skirts of the Miao people
both featured in the book Imprints on Cloth by Sadae and Tomoko Torimaru
simply hung and always with the massive wood beams and straw roof as a background
too much to show here
small, but so impressive
and then just around the corner
the Kayabuki no Sato Folk Museum
again, in an old farmhouse
a collection of all the simple necessities to survive in a remote farming village
traditional Japanese sewing boxes
(I’ve always wanted to bring one of these home!)
most items handmade from materials found locally
spinning wheel, bobbin winder and straw sandals
to all the people who work in, collect for and support museums around the world
thank you
Thanks for showing this. I’ve never been to Miyama but looking at your photos I think I will try to visit one of these days. Remarkable that towns like it still exist in Japan. Apart from the effort it requires to maintain the traditional housing, the big problem is finding a way to keep the young folk in the countryside. These days most of them gravitate to the higher paying jobs in the big cities.
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Jean-Pierre – I looked and didn’t see any buildings that look like a school, difficult for families to stay in such remote places when winter travel must be difficult. There are a couple inns in the area, next time (if there is one) I would like to stay 2-3 days.
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Hooray for museums, small and big!
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Kjerstin – hooray for people like you, all over the world!
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I love those sewing boxes too. Thanks for sharing all this beautiful work. How lucky you were to see it in person.
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Heather – sharing is part of the pleasure. I could have spent several more days just staring – no drooling.
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*Sigh* I’m in awe. Such wonderfully quaint museums. I’d love to make those Japanese sewing boxes…I once owned a cha tansu (for tea storage) that I picked up at an auction. I stored my sewing things in it. I gave it away when I moved cross country and sometimes I still kick myself.
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Kristin – I’ve seen a couple that were in good condition but they were either impossible to get home or outrageously expensive. Yes, there are some things we should hang on to!
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The variety of the indigo examples is amazing–it must’ve been wonderful to see them in one place and be able to study them!
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Kerry -I’d love to go back and spend hours examining each piece.
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amazing collection, just right. thank you so much for sharing these photos, jean. and you’re right about museums.
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Thank you from me to all those museums too. Lovely post, this place is a true treasure. Thank you for taking all the time to share, Jean.
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Hi Lis – we made it to the Boro Museum this time, wonderful. I’ve enjoyed going back over the pictures and the memories.
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